California Dreaming at the San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

Originally from California, each time I return, I dream of moving back where the plant scents fill the air all year and where, even in supermarkets, they don’t wrap the tomatos in cellophane.

At the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, where I am spending a few days soaking in ideas and inspiration, I had the pleasure yesterday of meeting the talented California landscape designer, Regina Rollin, aka the Landscape Designista. I wanted to move into her installation, California Dreaming: A Beach Relief With Soul. The sumptuous outdoor rooms included everything one would need to live in an al fresco small space paradise: a full size canopy bed on which to lay your weary head, a fully-equipped kitchen for cooking up meals from food plucked from your garden, a deluxe built-in sandbox to occupy the kids while the parents play, a bathtub/shower in which to bathe, and most importantly, a fabulous central dining area–a place to entertain under a gorgeous succulent embellished living chandelier.

“The garden,” according to the designer, “mimics the ocean’s tranquility with a restrained palate, making use of natural and recycled materials. It has a light footprint in the sand. Included are pacific coast native plants, succulents and other beach-y plants that create a habitat for native honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.” Her inclusion of the fabulous outdoor bathtub and shower, above, certainly contributes to the style she calls “organic modern California nonchalance, ie., gnarly chic.” Love it.

Rollins is inspired by a childhood spent in California beach towns and vacations in Mexico. If you’re in the Bay area, visit the space at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, which runs through Saturday. Rollins intends to inspire visitors, commenting that her installation offers “design ideas to steal and backyard beach house vibe.”

Love the shares you are bring us from the San Francisco Garden Show 2011 if you can swing by booth 1310 visit with my garden pals of Joy Us they have Authentic Haven Brand “Moo Poo Teas” snuggled in to their LadyBug garden tote bags…Annie

http://www.urbangardensweb.com Robin Horton

Thanks Annie! Loved that you were there in spirit with your Authentic Haven Brand “Moo Poo Teas” representing you! Look forward to seeing you at P Allen Smith’s Garden2Blog event in April!